Uber, a U.S-based ride-sharing service app company, has proposed meetings with taxi drivers in Seoul who have been protesting its presence in Korea.

An official from the Seoul Taxi Association (STA) reacted negatively to the proposal, saying Uber will have to stop its service first.

"Uber remains open to meeting with the taxi associations to discuss how Uber can help improve the lives and economic opportunities for Seoul's taxi drivers," Uber Korea said in a statement released Tuesday.

The statement came after thousands of taxi drivers staged a rally in central Seoul, asking the city government to kick Uber out of the Korean market.

"Uber first must agree to stop their service. Then, we can talk," a tax lobby official said.

Launched in August, Uber connects customers with Uber-registered drivers through a smartphone app.

The company refused to disclose the number of users and vehicles it has in Seoul. The capital has 72,000 taxies. Nationwide, the number reaches 280,000.

"Uber's proactive sales efforts are intimidating the livelihoods of taxi drivers when the crisis in the taxi market is deepening, but the government has only taken a passive attitude," said a rally participant.

The drivers call the Uber service illegal, citing a local law that prohibits "unregistered" vehicles from offering commercial services.

Uber denies those claims, arguing that it is registered as an IT company, not a taxi service provider.

One Uber official said that the claims by taxi drivers are groundless because Uber, itself, has no vehicles or drivers.

Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Government asked the Korea Communications Commission, the communications watchdog, to block the Uber app. However, the agency rejected that request saying the company has not violated any laws.

Uber has three main businesses — UberBlack, UberX and UberTAXI.

UberBlack is a premium service for customers who look for luxurious vehicles. The company works in partnership with local rental car companies for this.

UberX targets ordinary customers looking for any type of vehicle in which to travel.

Taxi drivers claim this threatens them most. A pilot project has been unveiled recently in Korea, and passengers can now use the service for free.

The UberTAXI service is provided in partnership with local taxi firms.

"Like every market in which Uber operates UberTAXI, Uber is committed to provide Seoul taxi drivers with tools to earn a better living," the statement read.